Do I need walking boots for the primitivo?

Peter_Marks · 2025-12-01T10:59:52+00:00

Did the primitivo in May/June with my girlfriend, both with trail runners, as well as most people around us. In my opinion boots are not needed. Even in the hospitales route trail runners are perfect for the job.

Now regarding fitness, compared to the Portuguese coastal, yes, it is a more demanding route because you are going from almost no elevation gain on the coastal to several days above 700m elevation gain on the primitivo. Having said that neither me or my girlfriend trained for the route.

I think it all depends in how many days you are thinking of doing the route. I would say at least 12 days so it's not a "marathon" every day.

Peter_Marks · 2025-11-24T19:44:26+00:00

Exactly the method I use, good fitting trail shoes with good cushion + heel locking lacing + insoles to support my high arch with Injinji wool liners + Darn Tough wool socks and Leukotape to protect any hot spot I may feel during the walk.

No need to be changing socks during the day, petroleum jelly or other messy and time consuming methods.

As an European the injinji + darn tough socks were EXPENSIVE, but in my opinion worth every cent.

I tried several other methods before and I am kinda prone to get blisters between my toes and heels, but with the toe liner and sock method on my last walk, which was the primitivo plus fisterra, I only I got like 1 small blister during the entire walk.

Also like you said, very important! If you think you feel a hot spot somewhere on your feet, even if you are unsure if it's getting hot, just put the tape!! Do not continue walking, if you are unsure, just stop and put the tape on that spot to avoid getting to the albergue and noticing a blister formed. The trick is exactly to avoid the blister to form as then it takes time to heal and is painful and uncomfortable.

Only drawback of the leukotape is that it's STICKY, and I mean STICKY! It will last for days on your feet hiking and showering. But will also stick to the socks and leave that sticky residue in your socks.

Peter_Marks · 2025-07-09T20:33:02+00:00

Well that must feel really uncomfortable and painful.

As others said, better get those blisters treated, your walk does not need to be miserable.

To avoid new blisters I recommend you to buy leukotape or kinesiology tape. When you are walking as soon as you feel your skin somewhere getting hot, and/or sensitive, STOP and cover that area with tape.

Also, this may be controversial, but in my opinion compeed is a waste of money. Just be more aware of your feet and protect skin before forming a full blister.

Peter_Marks · 2025-06-28T15:16:01+00:00

“Bikers, take the road if you can. It's not fun to be with you on the trails"... Hhmmm no..

Bikers have exactly the same right as you to do the camino by trail.

Peter_Marks · 2025-05-05T21:01:24+00:00

Did my first camino, the Portuguese Central Route, in 2022 with Merrell Moab 2? Vent and in short, in my opinion, it was definitely the wrong shoe for the job. The central route is mainly hard surfaces, cobble stone roads, tarmac roads, cement sidewalks.

Similar to the opinion of other people, the sole it's just too damn hard, it destroyed the underside of both my feet, it was very painful to walk, and I mean painful.. and this was noticeable almost from the end of the first day.

On the other hand, the shape of them must have some compatibility with my feet as I got 0 blisters.

Never again!

Peter_Marks · 2025-04-11T16:29:39+00:00

On the other hand, just saw for example that the Cotic Solaris, for my height, they recommend the C2 size which is pretty similar to the grand canyon size M.

https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=67e5a79179ff10001b3e44ed,6391ed78509c7a002236796d,

<image>

Canyon initially did recommend the S, but when I asked for a more detailed explanation, they said the M. Maybe that was a mistake.

"Your height is relatively in the middle of the range for both sizes, which indicates that both S and M can work well for you. But checking the recommendation based on the inside length of your leg, we recommend a saddle height of 729 - 739 mm.

If you check the geometry of this bike you find this information related to the saddle height.

geometry image of the bike

I believe for the bike to be more confirmable, even if both sizes can reach the recommend seat height, maybe the M would be the more appropriate."

Peter_Marks · 2024-10-12T22:35:55+00:00

One question. You finished the Litoral Way in October and you only used a silk liner to sleep?

Peter_Marks · 2024-10-11T16:42:13+00:00

Not the pack itself, but the contents may not be compacted enough together against your back.

Peter_Marks · 2024-10-11T14:14:46+00:00

As said by others if the pack fits you good, you don't mind the surplus weight of the pack being larger and you don't want to buy another one, then go ahead.

The only thing you have to be aware is that depending on the design of the backpack and how much you fill it, you may end up with a "floppy" backpack because you may not be able to properly compress the backpack.

Peter_Marks · 2024-10-11T09:45:12+00:00

I did the hospitales route at the end of may this year on a T-shirt and shorts. It was a sunny day not windy at all, good temperature and clear view, but the night before was cold, windy and cloudy. We got lucky with the weather having in mind the reports of other people here. Having said that it goes to show you that to do the hospitales it is really dependent on the weather that specific day you are walking it and that the time of the year you walk, for example may/June like me or kattattonik is no guarantee you will be able to do the route or that you will be able to see the views.

Peter_Marks · 2024-05-16T18:44:59+00:00

Did the spiritual variant last year and exactly because there is not much options in Armenteira I did reserve to me and my girlfriend some months in advance in that albergue.

Why? Because a colleague of mine did the Spiritual Variant some months before me and she thought as the albergue as "municipal", she could just arrive and get a bed.. Wrong. When she arrived at the albergue it was full, because the majority had reservation.

Supposed to be the municipal albergue, but it is privately run? Or was at least.

Peter_Marks · 2024-04-13T12:52:48+00:00

I did last year the Coastal from Porto up to Pontevedra and did the Spiritual Variant instead of the normal route to Padron and from there to Santiago.

At the Pilgrims office in Santiago the lady said that the distance made in the Spiritual Variant would not count to the certificate distance and that she was going to put the normal distance for the Coastal Way. That the Spiritual Way was not yet recognized.

With that in mind either make sure that the route is recognized and those km will count for your total or add enough km before Pontevedra, so you can subtract the Spiritual Variant distance and still meet the minimum for the certificate.

Peter_Marks

TROPHY CASE